Cheng Shing-Yi, Heilman Steven, Wasserman Max, Archer Shivaun, Shuler Michael L, Wu Mingming
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Lab Chip. 2007 Jun;7(6):763-9. doi: 10.1039/b618463d. Epub 2007 Apr 4.
We have developed a hydrogel-based microfluidic device that is capable of generating a steady and long term linear chemical concentration gradient with no through flow in a microfluidic channel. Using this device, we successfully monitored the chemotactic responses of wildtype Escherichia coli (suspension cells) to alpha-methyl-DL-aspartate (attractant) and differentiated HL-60 cells (a human neutrophil-like cell line that is adherent) to formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (f-MLP, attractant). This device advances the current state of the art in microchemotaxis devices in that (1) it demonstrates the validity of using hydrogels as the building material for a microchemotaxis device; (2) it demonstrates the potential of the hydrogel based microfluidic device in biological experiments since most of the proteins and nutrients essential for cell survival are readily diffusible in hydrogel; (3) it is capable of applying chemical stimuli independently of mechanical stimuli; (4) it is straightforward to make, and requires very basic tools that are commonly available in biological labs. This device will also be useful in controlling the chemical and mechanical environment during the formation of tissue engineered constructs.
我们开发了一种基于水凝胶的微流控装置，该装置能够在微流控通道中产生稳定且长期的线性化学浓度梯度，且无通流。利用该装置，我们成功监测了野生型大肠杆菌（悬浮细胞）对α-甲基-DL-天冬氨酸（引诱剂）以及分化的HL-60细胞（一种贴壁的人嗜中性粒细胞样细胞系）对甲酰甲硫氨酰亮氨酰苯丙氨酸（f-MLP，引诱剂）的趋化反应。该装置推动了微趋化性装置的当前技术水平，因为（1）它证明了使用水凝胶作为微趋化性装置构建材料的有效性；（2）它展示了基于水凝胶的微流控装置在生物学实验中的潜力，因为细胞存活所需的大多数蛋白质和营养物质在水凝胶中易于扩散；（3）它能够独立于机械刺激施加化学刺激；（4）它制作简单，且需要生物实验室中常见的非常基本的工具。该装置在控制组织工程构建体形成过程中的化学和机械环境方面也将很有用。
